State Notebook

October 21, 2005|Louis Anastasis and Brandon Mellor and Solange Reyner

GATORS

Wynn grabs starting role

GAINESVILLE Although it took seven months and seven games, running back DeShawn Wynn finally secured a starting job for No. 18 Florida.

Wynn had been considered the leading candidate to replace Ciatrick Fason this season. But a suspension, several lackluster practices and a slight shoulder injury kept the junior from distancing himself from Skyler Thornton, Markus Manson and Kestahn Moore.

He finally did that last week at LSU, running for 93 yards in a 21-17 loss.

"I found a tailback," coach Urban Meyer said.

OL Ronnie Wilson, who starred at Ely High School, has made a push to play, but Meyer said he won't burn his redshirt.

--Louis Anastasis

SEMINOLES

Homecoming for Nicholsons

This weekend's trip to North Carolina will mark a homecoming for LBs A.J. Nicholson and Derek Nicholson, who grew up in Winston-Salem. But it will also offer a reminder for the brothers of why they left in the first place.

Duke, which they'll face on Saturday, and North Carolina rank last and next-to-last in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division; Wake Forest and North Carolina State rank last and next-to-last in the Atlantic Division. Between them, the four North Carolina schools have won three games in the ACC this season.

"A lot of the good high school talent is going out of state because the competition and the level of play North Carolina is not bringing to the table," said A.J., a senior. "Kids want to win; it's not fun to lose." ...

LB Ernie Sims, who has battled several minor injuries this season but has not missed a game, is listed as questionable for Saturday. CB Trevor Ford is battling a pinched nerve and is not expected to play, while it looks like DE Darrell Burston will return to the starting lineup.

--Brandon Mellor

HURRICANES

Linebacker Cook turning heads

LB Glenn Cook has impressed coaches with his ability and instincts. The sophomore, who started his first game of the season last week against Temple and the third of his career for the Hurricanes, is what coach Larry Coker has been looking for in the defensive package.

"He knows where to go, where to line up and he doesn't make mistakes and makes you execute to beat him," Coker said.

Cook, a former Chaminade-Madonna standout, has nearly totaled last year's production. He finished with 17 tackles for the 2004 season. Halfway through this one, he has 15, three of which are solo. ...

DE Dwayne Hendricks, who injured his right elbow in the Temple game, is out indefinitely. Hendricks, a redshirt freshman out of Melville, N.J., had made appearances in all games except for the season opener against FSU. When asked if Hendricks was out for the season, Coker said: We'll see how he progresses, but it wouldn't surprise me.